Slips, Trips and Falls in the Workplace: Prevention and Risk Control
Slips, trips and falls in the workplace can occur across almost every industry. Effective prevention begins by identifying the conditions that contribute to loss of footing, balance or safe access.
Understanding Slips, Trips and Falls in the Workplace
Slips, trips and falls are related events, but their causes can differ. A slip commonly occurs when there is insufficient traction between footwear and a walking surface. A trip can occur when movement is interrupted by an obstacle, uneven surface or unexpected change in level.
Either event can result in a fall. Falls may also involve stairs, platforms, openings, edges or other changes in elevation.
Because these hazards can develop during routine operations, prevention requires both good workplace design and consistent attention to changing conditions.
What Causes Slips, Trips and Falls?
Many workplace conditions can contribute to slips, trips and falls, particularly when several factors occur together.
Wet or Contaminated Surfaces
Water, oil, grease, process materials and other contaminants can reduce traction on walking surfaces.
Uneven Surfaces
Damaged flooring, changes in level, loose materials and poorly maintained surfaces can create trip hazards.
Obstructed Walkways
Materials, cables, tools, packaging and other objects can interfere with normal pedestrian movement.
Poor Visibility
Insufficient lighting or visual obstructions can make changes in level and other walking hazards difficult to recognize.
Stairs & Access Routes
Damaged steps, unsuitable access, missing handholds or poorly maintained routes can increase fall risk.
Unprotected Changes in Height
Edges, openings and elevated work areas may create more serious fall hazards requiring specific controls.
Identify Slip, Trip and Fall Hazards
Hazard identification should examine how people actually move through the workplace. Entrances, corridors, stairs, work areas, storage locations, loading areas and temporary access routes may all require attention.
Conditions should be considered during normal work as well as cleaning, maintenance, material movement, adverse weather and other activities that can temporarily change walking surfaces or access.
Worker reports and workplace inspections can help identify hazards that may not be obvious during a single assessment.
Assess the Risk, Not Just the Hazard
Identifying a slippery surface or obstructed walkway is only part of the process. Risk assessment should consider who may be exposed, how frequently the area is used and the potential consequences of a fall.
A small change in level near an exposed edge may present a different level of risk from the same condition in a controlled area. Similarly, a surface used by large numbers of people may require greater attention than an infrequently accessed location.
Assessment helps organizations prioritize corrective action according to the actual circumstances of the workplace.
Good Housekeeping Helps Prevent Slips and Trips
Housekeeping is an important part of controlling walking-surface hazards. Materials, waste, tools and cables should be managed so that designated access routes remain usable.
Spills and contamination should be addressed through suitable procedures. Where immediate removal is not possible, temporary controls may be needed to protect people until the condition is corrected.
Housekeeping should be integrated into normal operations rather than treated only as an occasional cleanup activity.
Maintain Floors and Walking Routes
Flooring and other walking surfaces should be suitable for their intended use and maintained in appropriate condition. Damage, loose materials, unexpected changes in level and deterioration can create avoidable hazards.
The appropriate surface also depends on workplace conditions. Areas exposed to water, oils, process materials or outdoor weather may require different design and maintenance considerations from dry indoor areas.
Recurring problems should be investigated to determine whether a more permanent engineering solution is needed.
Respond to Spills and Contamination Promptly
Spill response should address both the immediate walking hazard and the source of the contamination. Repeatedly cleaning the same area without correcting the underlying leak or process problem may leave the risk unresolved.
Workers should know how to report spills and what immediate precautions are appropriate. Cleanup methods should also consider any chemical, biological or other hazards associated with the spilled material.
Warning signs can provide temporary information, but they should not become a substitute for correcting a hazard that can reasonably be removed.
Keep Walkways and Access Routes Clear
Pedestrian routes should provide sufficient space for safe movement and should not become informal storage areas. Cables, hoses, tools and temporary equipment should be routed or managed so that they do not unnecessarily obstruct access.
Where pedestrian routes interact with work activities, material handling or vehicles, additional planning may be required to maintain safe access.
Emergency routes and exits should receive particular attention because obstructions can create additional consequences during an emergency.
Manage Stairway Hazards
Stairs require suitable design, visibility and maintenance. Damaged steps, loose coverings, contamination or inconsistent surfaces can increase the likelihood of a fall.
Handrails or other protective features should be provided where required by the applicable design, workplace and regulatory requirements.
Objects should not be stored on stairs or landings where they can obstruct normal movement or emergency access.
Provide Appropriate Visibility
People need sufficient visibility to recognize walking surfaces, obstacles, stairs and changes in level. Poor lighting can make otherwise manageable conditions more difficult to identify.
Lighting should reflect the type of work and access route involved. Sudden transitions between very bright and dark areas can also affect visibility.
Failed lights and other lighting defects should be included in workplace reporting and maintenance arrangements.
Consider Footwear as Part of the Control Strategy
Footwear can influence traction and stability, particularly in workplaces where surfaces may become wet or contaminated. Selection should reflect the hazards and conditions in which the footwear will be used.
However, footwear should not be treated as the primary solution when slippery surfaces, poor drainage, contamination or other hazards can be controlled at their source.
Like other forms of personal protective equipment, footwear is most effective when used as part of a broader risk-control approach.
Distinguish Same-Level Falls From Work-at-Height Risks
Slips and trips commonly result in falls on the same level, but similar events near an edge, opening or elevated platform can have much more serious consequences.
Work at height requires specific assessment and controls appropriate to the activity and applicable requirements. Organizations should not rely on general housekeeping measures alone where a person could fall from one level to another.
Where possible, exposure to fall hazards should be eliminated or controlled using stronger measures before relying on individual protective equipment.
Control Short-Term and Changing Hazards
Maintenance, cleaning, construction, deliveries and other temporary activities can introduce hazards into areas that are normally safe for pedestrian movement.
Organizations should consider how temporary work will affect access before the activity begins. Barriers, alternative routes, temporary surface protection or other measures may be appropriate depending on the situation.
Once temporary work is complete, access routes should be checked before returning them to normal use.
Use Near Misses to Identify Fall Risks
A person may slip or trip without being injured. These near misses can provide useful warning that a walking surface, access route or work practice needs attention.
Reporting systems should make it practical for workers to identify hazards before an injury occurs. Reports should then be reviewed and appropriate corrective actions assigned.
Repeated reports from the same location can indicate that temporary corrections are not addressing the underlying problem.
A Practical Approach to Preventing Slips, Trips and Falls
Prevention should combine workplace design, maintenance, housekeeping and ongoing monitoring.
Inspect
Examine walking surfaces, stairs, access routes and work areas for conditions that could cause slips, trips or falls.
Assess
Consider exposure, frequency, location and potential consequences so that significant risks receive priority.
Control
Correct surface defects, remove contamination, improve access and apply other controls appropriate to the hazard.
Review
Monitor the area and confirm that corrective measures remain effective as workplace conditions change.
Common Slip, Trip and Fall Prevention Mistakes
Relying on Warning Signs
Signs can communicate a temporary hazard, but they should not replace correction of a condition that can reasonably be removed.
Treating Housekeeping as Occasional
Access routes can deteriorate quickly when housekeeping is separated from normal workplace responsibilities.
Ignoring Root Causes
Repeated cleanup or temporary repairs may not solve leaks, damaged surfaces or poor workplace design that continually recreate the hazard.
Prevent Slips, Trips and Falls Through Systematic Risk Control
Slips, trips and falls in the workplace should not be treated as unavoidable everyday events. Many contributing conditions can be identified and controlled through suitable design, maintenance, housekeeping and work planning.
Regular inspections, effective reporting and attention to recurring problems can help organizations move from temporary corrections toward more reliable prevention.
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